Pakatan Harapan’s decision to field young candidates in the Nov 14 Melaka election reflects the changing make-up of the electorate, PKR Youth deputy chief Chiew Choon Man said today, while a Barisan Nasional incumbent urged voters to judge candidates on experience rather than age.
PH’s young candidates include Mukhlisul Mubin Julasapiyah in Kuala Linggi, Farzana Hayani Nasir, 26, in Kelebang, Jason Tze-Xi Nathan, 31, in Pengkalan Batu and P Denesh, 37, in Asahan.
In a statement, Chiew said the move was especially relevant after the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration, and would give a new generation the chance to prove their leadership and bring fresh ideas to current challenges. Chiew, who is deputy tourism, arts and culture minister, noted that he was elected Miri MP at 31. “I hope that voters will give these bright young candidates a chance to prove themselves as leaders,” he said.
In Kuala Linggi, BN’s Rosli Abdullah, 58, who is defending the seat, said voters should weigh each candidate’s experience and record. He faces PH’s Mukhlisul, a Gen Z candidate, and Bersama’s Nur Farhana Hamzah, 41, in a three-cornered contest.
“Voters must evaluate the candidates based on their experience. They can see the results of my work and my methods,” Rosli said at BN’s operations room in Kuala Linggi. He won the seat in the 2021 state election with a majority of 1,836 votes, defeating candidates who included Mukhlisul’s father, Julasapiyah Kassim.
Rosli said that if re-elected, he would focus on the constituency’s flood problems, road projects that have already been approved and a new mosque, as well as the welfare of fishermen, including their difficulties in obtaining licences.